by Jesus Alaniz
I’ve reflected on our nation’s riots and the arrogant politicians, taxes and laws that may have caused them. I object to the riots because of all of the destruction and looting to personal and business property owners along with the innocent bystanders rather than properly attacking the real enemy. On the other hand our liberty did not come from Colonists sipping tea and munching on crumpets with the English. “We are a nation of laws and the law is the law. We must be obedient to the law and if you don’t like the law then vote for those who’ll change the law or run for public office and change it yourself”, arrogant politicians, courts and police will tell you along with some uninformed citizens. John Adams once said “Facts are stubborn things…” and it is time that we look at some facts and face reality. Ruling parties and their parrots will tell you that America has become a better place since they took office and all about America’s freedom, however, one June 2014 source ranks America as the no. 2 country in the world with the highest incarceration rate with an estimated 707 persons incarcerated for every 100,000 hence America is not as “free” as one might think. I won’t rehash unjust laws and taxes, but I do believe that the balance of power is tipping towards those who were unjustly made “criminals”. In his Spirit of the Law, Montesquieu wrote, “…every tyrant is at the same time a slave…” Freemen and freed convicts can travel, go about and live anywhere whether it’s gated community or the ghetto where politicians dare not go. There are now two powerful forces, those holding office and those who have served their time in prison. Montesquieu observed and wrote “The republic constantly demanded some new tax of me; and I could not decline paying. Since I have grown poor, I have acquired authority; nobody threatens me; I rather threaten others. I can go or stay where I please. The rich already rise from their seats and give me the way. I am a king, I was before a slave: I paid taxes to the republic, now it maintains me: I am no longer afraid of losing: but I hope to acquire.” President Kennedy warned during the Civil Rights movement “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.” Lawmakers need to return to representative status, represent their people & their liberties and stop making revenue generating laws that make criminals out of innocent people. Look at our neighborhoods. If crime has increased then you might be enslaved by former slaves who no longer have fear or those who’ve had loved ones unjustly incarcerated. I also detest those who support “social justice”. Study the social justice politicians and in many cases you’ll find they’ve been the ones who raised taxes and passed unjust laws believing they were doing God’s work when they were really doing the devils.
